To encourage lifelong development, there will be a legal, independent assessment to classify training courses. This gives workers, job seekers and employers better insight into the level of training they want to follow. From now on, it will also be easier to intervene if providers provide incorrect information about the level of their training. This week, the House of Representatives approved the Netherlands Qualification Framework (NLQF) bill by Minister Mariëlle Paul (Primary and Secondary Education), which regulates this.
In 2022, 24 percent of the working population between the ages of 25 and 65 will follow training. More than two-thirds of these were non-formal. This concerns, for example, training from the industry or vocational training.
Minister Mariëlle Paul (Primary and Secondary Education):
''Everyone should have the opportunity to continue developing themselves throughout their lives. This is crucial for innovation, dealing with the changing world and for a strong economy. But also for everyone's chances to remain active on the labor market. Clarity about the level of a course helps. This clarity already exists for formal education, but this does not yet apply to non-formal learning. With this law we better enable students, employees and job seekers to make well-considered choices about their education."
Formal and non-formal education
Formal education, which leads to a government-recognized diploma or certificate, is automatically classified under this new law. Non-formal training courses, which do not lead to a government-recognized diploma or certificate but for which learning outcomes have been determined in advance, can be classified. Certain criteria apply. For example, there must be independent examination, at least 400 study load hours or additional criteria and relevance to the labor market. Part of the new law also includes a protocol that indicates how trainers may and may not communicate about the level of the training courses they offer. The new law provides insight into the level of learning outcomes of a course and is therefore not a quality mark.
European perspective
The Netherlands hereby joins the European Qualification Framework (EQF). This is intended to increase the employability of people in their working lives in the Netherlands and Europe through proper level classification. In our country, training courses have been classified since 2012. There are now 10 EU member states that have also legally laid down the classification, and the Netherlands agrees with this law. The NLQF bill is now presented to the Senate.
